Page 40 of Depths of Desire (The Emerald Dagger Mafia #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

S ivara stands. “Your majesties, I only have a few questions for this witness. Mrs. Benedetti, did you sign an agreement with Malrick for your daughter’s hand in marriage?”

My mother looks at me, her face unreadable. “I did.”

Sivara nods. “Was this agreement made without duress?”

“It was.”

“And did you sign the agreement alongside your husband?”

“I did.”

Sivara straightens, her voice syrupy with satisfaction. “Your majesties, there it is—plain as day. The agreement was struck.”

The kings glance at one another. Aldryn, the king with the blue-lined robe gives a small shrug. “It does indeed seem that the deal was made.” He leans back, eyes on Sivara. “With this evidence before us, I believe we can?—”

Leonardo starts to get up, but Renzo waves him off and climbs to his feet. His voice is calm but firm when he interjects, “If you would allow me to ask a few questions, your majesty, I believe we can settle this matter quickly.”

Aldryn looks to the others. The five confer briefly, then the king in the silver-lined cloak nods. “Fine. But let’s get this finished.”

Renzo turns to my mother. “Mrs. Benedetti.” There’s an edge in his voice that chills me. I want to cheer. He asks, “You say you signed this agreement. Along with your husband. You were both present when the deal was struck?”

“Yes,” she says, her tone clipped, her arrogance coiling behind each syllable.

“And this was not made under duress?”

“No.”

Renzo tilts his head slightly. “May I ask what spell you received from the witch in exchange?”

My mother’s eyes narrow. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

Aldryn leans forward. “Madam, you are not in one of your human courts. You are before the vampire Council. You will answer every question asked of you.”

A flush creeps up her neck. I can’t help but feel a grim sliver of satisfaction. The humiliation she feels now is nothing compared to what she’s made me feel.

“I asked the witch… Morwenna—” she says through clenched teeth.

A small gasp ripples through the gallery.

The red-robed king glares out at them, and the crowd falls instantly silent.

My mother continues, “I asked Morwenna to help me retain my youth and beauty.”

Another collective gasp. The hush afterward is even heavier.

“So,” Renzo says, voice even, “you traded your daughter… to stay young?”

Sivara bolts to her feet. “This is outrageous?—”

Aldryn cuts her off sharply. “She will answer.”

“Yes,” my mother snaps. Her cheeks are now bright with color. “I did.”

“Thank you,” Renzo says. “Your majesties, I have one more question.”

The red-robed king sighs. “Then ask it.”

“It’s not for this witness. It’s for Mr. Benedetti.”

Sivara stands again. “Your majesty, I fail to see?—”

“You will sit,” Aldryn growls. “As you have accused the Valdici family of violating a sacred contract, we will allow them to ask questions in their defense.” He nods to Renzo.

My stomach twists into knots.

“Mr. Benedetti,” Renzo says, “come forward.”

My father rises slowly from the bench and limps into the Tribunal Circle. His face is bruised, swollen. One foot drags, and his arm is in a sling. I want to feel something. Pity. Relief. But all I feel is cold. Detached. Empty. This man let this happen.

Renzo asks, “Mr. Benedetti, were you present when this agreement between your wife and Malrick was struck?”

My father looks at Renzo. Then at my mother. Finally, he meets my eyes. His voice is quiet. “No.”

“I’m sorry,” Renzo says. “We didn’t catch that.”

My father sighs. “No. I was not present.”

Gasps ripple again through the gallery. My stomach twists in knots as I hold my breath.

“Say that again,” Aldryn commands.

“I was not present when the deal was struck.”

Aldryn leans forward. “But you did sign the document?”

My father shakes his head. “No, I did not.”

Sivara shoots to her feet. “But your signature is right here!” Her fingernail points the signature like a dagger.

“That,” my father says, “is not my signature. My wife forged it.”

A sharp breath escapes me, and the tears come—sudden and hot.

I blink them back. This is not the moment to cry.

I need to look strong. However, some deep part of me cracks open.

He finally stood up for me. I glance around and for the first time notice Julien.

He offers me a small smile, which I appreciate more than I thought possible.

Luca squeezes my knee. The gesture grounds me.

I wish Nico was beside me, but I’ll take what comfort I can from his friend and his brother.

I feel better knowing Julien is here. Maybe he won’t have to testify now, but his presence makes me feel like I can survive this.

If only Nico were here. That would make me feel so much stronger.

The council members lean back, murmuring to one another.

The red-robed king speaks again. “You are saying your wife and Malrick’s representative have both lied to this Council today?”

“Yes.” My father’s voice is strong, louder now.

“I did not make this agreement. I did not sign it. My wife has learned to forge my signature over the years. If you look closely, you’ll see her version always has a small, curved tail on the end of the I in my last name.

Mine does not. That’s how I can tell when she’s faked it. ”

Aldryn reaches out. “Let me see the document.”

Sivara glares at my father, but walks over and hands it to him.

“Do you have a signature for comparison?” the king asks.

My father pulls out his wallet and removes his driver’s license.

He starts to walk it forward, but Renzo intercepts it, laying it carefully on the table in front of the kings. They examine it in silence.

Finally, Aldryn speaks. “Well. This changes things.” He sets the document down and looks at Sivara with narrowed eyes. “This agreement is null and void. Niccolo Valdici’s marriage to Luna Benedetti is valid and stands.”

A wave of relief crashes over me—but it’s short-lived.

“However,” Aldryn says darkly, “we must now address the other issue.”

I blink. “What other issue?” I whisper to Renzo.

He gives me a tight shake of his head. Not now . The message is clear. I search for Julien. His expression is one of sympathy, which makes my stomach drop. What’s going on?

Aldryn addresses Sivara. “You know the punishment for lying to this council. Do you admit to your transgression?”

Sivara shakes her head. “No, your majesty. I was told this document was valid. I had no idea that Mrs. Benedetti lied.”

Aldryn frowns. “You know we can invoke the magick of the chamber and it will tell us if you are lying.”

“Yes, your majesty. And I know that if I was lying and you invoke the spell I would be banished to the land in-between, permanently and irrevocably, immediately upon the end of this proceeding. I would never risk that.” She gave a small shudder.

“Malrick lied as well, it would seem. Perhaps you need to discuss this with him,” Aldryn commanded. The kings confer for a second, and then Aldryn continues. “We will let you off with a warning. Do not let this happen again.”

Sivara tries to keep a neutral expression on her face, but her eyes gleam with her victory. I swear I hear Leonardo curse under his breath.

Had she been lying then? Did she know the truth? The kings seem willing to believe her. Somehow sending someone to whatever the hell the land in-between was seems like a very big deal. The kings don’t seem eager for sure.

Aldryn turns to my mother. “Madam, you have lied to the Council of vampire kings. This offense is punishable by death.”

This time, I gasp. The silence from the gallery is heavy and ominous. I look at Renzo. He gives me a curt nod. I start to rise, but Luca holds my leg, keeping me seated.

Sivara jumps to her feet. “Your Majesty?—”

“No, Lady Draethe,” the Blue King says. “You know as well as anyone the penalty for deception in this chamber. This woman attempted to manipulate the ruling of this Council with forged documents and false testimony. She must face her punishment.”

Sivara presses again. “But surely death is… extreme. Might you consider another sentence?”

Aldryn opens his mouth, but the red-robed king nudges him. The five confer in quiet murmurs while the gallery stirs behind me.

I can hardly breathe. They're going to execute my mother. Part of me wants to scream—to beg them not to do it. The other part—the part that remembers how she sold me for a spell—stays silent. God, I want Nico so badly it hurts. That urgent need brings another truth into focus:

I love him. I’m in love with a vampire. I’m married to a vampire.

The gallery begins to buzz again—too loudly. Then the silver-robed king lifts his head and calls for silence. But a voice speaks anyway.

“Your majesties.” It’s a woman. I turn. Her hair flows like strands of silver silk. Her robe is black, but it shimmers with color, like an oil slick.

Aldryn inclines his head. “What is it you need, Morwenna?”

“When I cast the spell for Mrs. Benedetti,” she says, “I had no idea she intended to trade her daughter for it. Malrick never disclosed that to me. I only agreed to the spell as a favor.”

The hall falls still.

“This spell has been tainted by that betrayal,” she continues. “I ask permission to rescind it. That would serve as punishment enough.”

The kings murmur again. The red-robed king frowns. “Losing her looks does not seem like enough punishment, Morwenna. She lied to us.”

“I understand,” Morwenna replies. “But the reversal won’t just strip away her appearance.

It will draw out every ounce of power she has hoarded.

It will age her beyond recognition. She will become frail and forgotten.

A shadow of what she was. And considering she sold her daughter for that power… I believe it’s fitting.”

The kings confer again.

Finally, Aldryn nods. “Very well. Proceed.”

Morwenna raises her arms.

My mother begins to back away. “No—you can’t do this. We made a deal!”

Morwenna’s voice is icy. “The deal you corrupted. You asked for beauty and energy to care for your daughter. You said you needed strength to guide her through a difficult path. You lied. You twisted my magic for selfish gain.”

Guards appear from the shadows, grasping my mother’s arms and holding her in place.

Morwenna begins to chant, the words thick with ancient power. The air sparks. Then—snap. My mother screams. Her body bends, her scream strangled into a pitiful gasp. Her skin begins to wrinkle. Her hair dulls and falls limp. She’s becoming what she truly is: broken, bitter, and old.

And I can’t look away.